The power of words: speaking to the heart

The heart is like a box, and language is the key. Only by using the key can we open the box and observe the gems it contains.

Every word is endowed with a spirit, therefore the speaker or expounder should carefully deliver his words at the appropriate time and place, for the impression which each word maketh is clearly evident and perceptible. The Great Being saith: One word may be likened unto fire, another unto light, and the influence which both exert is manifest in the world. Therefore an enlightened man of wisdom should primarily speak with words as mild as milk, that the children of men may be nurtured and edified thereby and may attain the ultimate goal of human existence which is the station of true understanding and nobility.

A kindly tongue is the lodestone of the hearts of men. It is the bread of the spirit, it clotheth the words with meaning, it is the fountain of the light of wisdom and understanding.

… Unsheathe the sword of your tongue from the scabbard of utterance, for therewith ye can conquer the citadels of men's hearts.

Say: Utterance is a substance that seeketh penetration and moderation. As to penetration, it is conditional upon refinement, which in turn is dependent upon hearts that are detached and pure. As for moderation, it is to be combined with wisdom, which We have revealed in the Scriptures and Tablets.

O self-sacrificing servant of the Lord! Although writing and speaking can express what is in the heart, the realm of words falls short in fully conveying divine meanings. It is but an indication, an allusion, a sign.

The people of Baha must spread the divine fragrances through deeds more than words, for a single deed emanating from the essence of sanctity will promote the Cause such that its fragrant breezes will spread to all regions.

It would have been more pleasing in the sight of God if you had informed him in a loving manner.

Consider how through their negative words, some can change an eager seeker into one disinterested and indifferent. Yet sometimes, just a single word causes guidance and the awakening of a multitude.

We must judge the people by their inward, spiritual qualities. Let no one raise his tongue in intentional or unintentional malice against his brother or sister. We must watch our tongues. This Cause is very great and the circle of our patience must be very wide. Let every man write this sentence 'Watch thy tongue' on the tablet of his heart.

Man's speech is a mirror of his heart. He speaks from whatever plane his heart is at. Therefore, from one's conversation it can be discerned in what plane he dwells, whether his concern is with the world below or the realm above, and whether he is heedless or aware, awakened or in slumber. The Imam 'Ali stated, "Man is hidden, but his tongue reveals him." That is, one speaks of whatever he finds important.

Man must become the interpreter of the heart and the expounder of heavenly revelation. In this state, he speaks in every tongue and truthfully expresses in all languages.

The Blessed Perfection often remarked that a lecture must be like unto a cool, pure, refreshing stream of water. It is not necessary to use dark, obsolete and difficult words; the simpler the more effective.

One of these orators who wielded together such tremendous power over his audience, swaying their emotions towards any direction was Hassan Khargain. This orator had a son who had studied philosophy and sciences and considered himself secretly greater than his father. He marvelled at the simple words of his father, playing such wonderful effect upon the hearts of his hearers.

The tongue is the dawning-place of the lights of truth; make it not the source of false utterances. The tongue is the treasury of My praise and mention; occupy it not with the remembrance of this one and that one, for it shall be a sign unto itself in its own station.

When we speak let our speech be an outward evidence of the inner light, for we must speak the truth, otherwise we shall not act wisely.

I hope that you will all become eloquent. The greatest gifts of man are reason and eloquence of expression. The perfect man is both intelligent and eloquent. He has knowledge and knows how to express it.

Among the helpers of God is utterance, both in this Most Great Revelation and formerly. Deeds and goodly character are the hosts of God and are engaged in rendering assistance. If utterance is made with due measure it is God's mercy, but if it exceeds bounds it becomes the cause of destruction. In the Tablets We have counseled all to utter such words as possess the potency and effect of milk, that the children of the world may be nurtured thereby and attain maturity.

From the most eloquent tongue We have turned to the luminous tongue. The friends of God must cleave unto wisdom and forbearance, and associate with all the peoples of the world in a spirit of joy and fragrance. In one utterance may be concealed the Water of Life that bestoweth eternal existence, and in another utterance may lie deadly poison. The people of unity must speak with words sweeter than honey and more delicate than the morning dew.

Speak not that which would startle souls, cause flesh to creep, make limbs to tremble, and make the hearts of obstinate people recoil. Rather, speak to them with gentle words that they might remember or fear God.

Follow thou the way of thy Lord, and say not that which the ears cannot bear to hear, for such speech is like luscious food given to small children. However palatable, rare and rich the food may be, it cannot be assimilated by the digestive organs of a suckling child. Therefore unto every one who hath a right, let his settled measure be given.

Therefore the teacher must speak according to the acceptable standard of the place and the time, so that his words may affect the hearts and the people may understand his address. Teaching the Cause of God in this manner will produce fruits. We must not remain stationary and silent. If the thousand-voiced nightingale does not break into musical thrills and rapturous melodies, it is like a mute sparrow.

'Abdu'l-Baha said to Mr. Vail: "If people ask you about your conduct (as a Baha'i teacher), say: 'We do not oppose the religion of any one and we act in accordance with the Gospel. But we must also act in accordance with the Teachings of Baha'u'llah. They are-the Oneness of the World of Humanity, Independent Investigation of Truth, Abandonment of Prejudice, Universal Peace, etc. You must act in accordance with these Teachings.

Blessed are they who speak the truth and hold fast to wisdom and utterance at all times.

This is the Day of service, the Day of teaching, and the Day of assistance, but through wisdom. Utterance is effective, especially if it proceedeth from pure and detached hearts.

A word that proceeds from the mine of righteousness and sincerity for God's sake is indeed all-powerful and all-encompassing. When such a word is cast upon a people or an army, they become so enthralled that neither worldly conditions nor all that the nations possess can deter them from the Straight Path and the Momentous News.

A word that ascendeth from the heaven of the heart and shineth forth from the horizon of the tongue for the sake of God will assuredly have effect.

Until detachment is achieved, a person's words will have no effect.

The words of many speakers are mixed with the lusts of their souls and their worldly appetites; therefore they will have neither authority nor success.

Jesus said: "Arise, take up thy bed and walk." He did not use prayers or mental suggestion. He used spiritual authority in the command which was the power of the Holy Spirit manifest in him. Therefore his word was obeyed because it was creative.

Some breezes refresh the body like the spring breeze and some hurt the body. Some words lighten the heart and others crush it. The breeze of the Disciples quickened the spirit and the words of the Pharisees deadened and killed it.

How many are the words that cause the exaltation, ascension and enkindling of the people, and how many cause coldness and apathy. One word kindleth the fire of love while another extinguisheth it.

Speech should be like the spring breezes, that the trees of being may thereby become verdant and flourishing. One word is like the vernal winds, while another is like the deadly simoom.

A word that is spoken for God's sake contains within it the nature and effect of milk whose taste has not changed, and it will raise the children of the age to the lofty station of maturity and give them to drink from the ocean of knowledge.

O Abul-Fadl! Fix thy gaze upon this blessed and goodly word which, like unto the sun, hath dawned from the horizon of the heaven of God's Tablet: It behooveth man to bring forth that which will gladden mankind, not that which will cause the lamentations of nations to arise.

At all times doth the Pen of the All-Merciful counsel those who drink of the wine of utterance to that which is the cause of tranquility for all and the means of exaltation of the Cause.

Hold thou fast in all circumstances to wisdom and utterance, lest the cawing of those who have denied God, the Lord of all worlds, be raised.

Any wavering now will result in your becoming lukewarm and only half-alive; any silence on your part will lead to utter oblivion. So show forth your deeds and speak out eloquently at all times. Be truthful, enthralled, and full of fervour so that the truth may become fully realised in your meetings.

True listening consisteth in man's first perceiving with the ear of his spirit the call of the All-Merciful, and then remaining so steadfast in observing the divine precept and command that were he to witness from the peoples of the world naught save denial, enmity, and rejection, he would in no wise be deflected from walking in the Straight Path of God.

The faculty of hearing is more important than the faculty of seeing. Firstly because it is revealed in the Khoran: 'He (God) is the Hearer and the Seer!' We observe that in this verse the word 'Hearer' precedes the word 'Seer'. Secondly 'sight' is a faculty possessed by animals as well as by men, of perceiving only external objects in a direct line, the impressions of which are imprinted on the retina of the eyes while 'hearing' is the faculty or the sense by which sound is perceived from every direction - right - left, front, back.

Some material things have a spiritual effect. The spoken words cause a vibration which produces an effect upon the ear. This is material, but the effect is spiritual--that is, the spirit of man feels the effect-- either of gladness or sadness.

All these have in themselves an organization, and are constructed on natural law. Therefore, they correspond to the order of existence like something which would fit into a mold. A true voice fits into the mold of nature. When it is so, this affects the nerves, and they affect the heart and spirit.

Although ordinary sound and melody are merely vibrations of air and physical qualities, nevertheless when they reach the auditory nerve they cause the spirit to stir.

Sometimes humor causes hearts to surge and brings joy to breasts, but humor that is in reality pure seriousness clothed in the garment of humor is more pleasant and attractive, for its influence is greater.

Speech is of two kinds: one is comprehensive utterances and decisive speech which is extremely concise yet meaningful; the other is legends and stories which are verbose, lengthy and prolix but with few and rare meanings.

Raise birds and chicks so that you may learn to nurture living beings, and raise a parrot so that it may become a source of joy for you and like it you may learn heavenly words. Although it is unaware of its own speech, you, God willing, will speak words whose meanings you will first conceive and then utter.

Now thou too must show forth such courage and valor--yet not through the sharp blade and perilous arrow, but rather through a honeyed tongue and sweet utterance and conduct like pure honey and nectar. This sword taketh not life but bestoweth it; it destroyeth not but buildeth up; it casteth not down hearth and home but raiseth up heavenly foundations.

One goodly word uttered with sincerity is more beloved in the sight of God than a hundred thousand swords raised in His Name, for in this Revelation the ocean of mercy is surging, the sun of bounty is shining, and all are forbidden from that which causeth injury, fear, and distress.

The triumph of a single pure deed is, in the sight of God, greater than the victory of an army that striveth in the path of God, for the shedding of blood is not beloved, and in this Most Great Revelation, victory hath been ordained through word and utterance. Thus hath the matter been decreed in the perspicuous Book.

The greatest sword is the tongue. Its authority and sway is over hearts. The sword of steel sheds blood; the sword of speech bestows life. One takes away life; the other grants it.

O thou who art attracted by the fragrances of God! The divine sword is utterance and speech, and proof and evidence, and the reality of knowledge - not iron and steel.

Neither sword nor arrow exists, nor blade nor instrument of iron. The weapons of the divine friends are peace and reconciliation, and their world-conquering sword is utterance, expression and speech.

Now is the time for work! To spread the law of Love at such a time is the greatest of all the works. Strive that the benign influence of Love permeate through the hearts of all men. They are thinking and waging war, you practice Peace and conciliation."

President [of the] Spiritualist Alliance:- "There are many advocates of universal love, but there are some newspapers subsidized by the Manufacturers of Cannons and powders to write all the time of war and the glories of conquests."

'Abdu'l-Baha: "Never mind! The Will of God in this century is the promotion of Love amongst mankind. … These things shall pass away and the Will of God will become victorious. Those who serve the Cause of Love are confirmed. Let nothing discourage you. Cry out the word Peace. Push ahead. Seest thou not the light?"

Then know that victory lieth not in the sword and its like, but victory lieth in the tongue and what proceedeth therefrom of utterance for the Cause of God, thy Lord and the Lord of the worlds.

Say: The sword is My remembrance and the spearpoint is the tongue. Draw them forth by My leave, then help the All-Merciful through them amidst all worlds. Thus have ye been commanded by the Revealer of verses. By My life! The sword of utterance is sharper than the sword of steel - know this, O ye who are endued with insight!

O Rustam! The sword of steel may conquer earthly realms and take sorrowful cities and settlements, but the divine sword of the tongue is that which opens in praise of God and guides the lost.

Our swords are the Words of Light.

Aid ye your Lord, the God of Mercy, with the sword of understanding. Keener indeed is it, and more finely tempered, than the sword of utterance, were ye but to reflect upon the words of your Lord.

Praise be to God Who hath manifested through wisdom, revealed His Cause through wisdom, commanded all through wisdom, and made victory to reside in utterance and wisdom. Exalted is the Lord of wisdom and the Manifestor of wisdom, Who hath made it sharper than swords, more penetrating than spears, and more piercing than arrows.

Aid thy Lord with the sword of utterance - thus hath the matter been decreed from the Pen of the All-Merciful in these days wherein sorrows have encompassed Me from all directions, and God is witness unto this. Know thou that in those days God hath ordained the victory of His Cause through exposition rather than through the tongue, and thus hath the sun of wisdom shone forth from the horizon of justice with a radiance that encompasseth all the worlds.

The King of Creation declares: O Javad! Draw forth the sword of the tongue from the scabbard of utterance through the power of the All-Merciful, and proclaim this Cause in such wise that no created thing shall find means to turn away, for these loved ones are aided by the Holy Spirit when they speak.

No sword is sharper than the Word of God. If a few souls arise purely for the sake of God, speak for God and fix their gaze upon God, assuredly its effects will become manifest and evident in the world, as indeed they have become manifest and ye witness them.

The triumph of God's Cause is through wisdom and utterance, naught else.

Victory hath been ordained through remembrance and utterance.

We counsel all to assist the Cause of God through the hosts of deeds and character. Any deed performed by any soul for the sake of God that becomes the cause of guiding others is worthy to be recorded and, by the testimony of this Wronged One, neither obliteration shall overtake it nor change find its way unto it.

The fragrance of pure deeds pervadeth and penetrateth, and influenceth the hearts and minds of men.

One pure deed and one goodly attribute hath guided and will continue to guide multitudes. In ancient times, a person known as Hanzala, through one word spoken with sincerity, guided a king and many of his subjects.

By the life of God, the fortresses of hearts - their stones scatter, their rocks disintegrate, their foundations are uprooted by your sharp sword of utterance, and their gates are opened by your maces from which sparks fly.

By the life of God, thou shalt find thy tongue to be a sharp and unsheathed sword with which thou shalt conquer the realms of hearts and spirits.

He made the tongue a drawn sword and meanings and utterance a penetrating arrow, so that this host of inspiration might utterly scatter the armies of vain imaginings.

In those dense woods may they raise such a roar that it will cause the hearts of the veiled ones to tremble and leave the jackals of ignorance and unawareness no choice but to flee. That roar is the divine call, and that courage and valor is love for the Beauty of the Infinite Lord.

In the rosebush of inner meanings thou didst raise such a melody with divine accent that thou didst utterly destroy the cawing of crows and the croaking of ravens.

Such is His grace that, as thou seest, He speaketh in place of him who hath no tongue, and maketh mention of him - a mention that shall cause souls to be mindful throughout ages and centuries.

Encourage your daughters whether in the house of elsewhere in speaking. Give them a chance so that they also may speak.

This matter is very important, and when it is properly realized, such distinguished women will be trained in it that with eloquent speech and persuasive expression they will astound the world and render the eloquent ones of East and West silent and speechless.

And that is the power of utterance - that thou shouldst open thy tongue and voice, teach the Cause of God, and speak with such eloquence that all women will be amazed, wondering what grace and perfection this is.

O handmaiden who hath borne every tribulation in the path of God! Consider the special favors and exclusive bounty of the Most Holy One in this cycle of mercy, whereby a leaf addresseth the leaders with decisive words and conclusive discourse, and He causeth her to speak forth the blessed verse "Our Lord!

We must encourage the believers in public-speaking and especially encourage those who can do so.

This Cause is proclaimed through eloquent, sincere addresses. We must unloose the tongue, spread the Fragrances of God, diffuse the Words of God.

Therefore if you possess a talent for clear inspiration and flowing expression, open your speech to these truths and meanings and give full voice.

Talent should be a fountain of knowledge and wisdom, from which praises and tributes to the Blessed Beauty should flow forth.

If she advanceth in this manner, maketh more effort and day by day groweth in spirituality, sincerity, devotion and severance, in a short time she will become purely merciful and will spiritualize others; she will progress in the stations of sanctity and purity; she will become the possessor of a fluent speech and will find her heart brilliant and full of serenity and faith to such an extent that her pure breath will so take effect even in stone, tree and clay (i.e., in all people), that she, herself, will be astonished.

Today those souls who are free from every thought save the True One, their hearts are inspired with the divine inspiration. Whenever they begin to speak on any subject they are prompted by the spirit, as though some one speaks to them.

At that time thou wilt become fluent in tongue and thou wilt speak in most eloquent words through the confirmation of the Holy Spirit.

I hope that thou wilt become, in steadfastness, so firm and so solid that thousands of deliverances would not cause thee to tremble.

This is the New Spirit and the uninterrupted assistance. When this is attained, the language will become eloquent and the utterance penetrating.

The rapture and attraction of the love of God maketh the mute tongue to speak and the deaf ear to hear. It inspireth eloquent speech and teacheth wondrous meanings.

Despite the simplicity of speech, the confirmations of the Abha Kingdom arrived and, through the favors of the Blessed Beauty, had their effect.

It behooves one like you to continue raising the call between earth and heaven. The sword does not gleam except when unsheathed, and the banner does not flutter except when raised and waving. The bird does not sing except when warbling, and the lamp does not shine except when lit.

In reality, all the souls are silent and speechless, but be thou a speaker. God willing, thou wilt become such.

Loose thy tongue and teach, and let thy face be bright with the fire of God's love.

Open an eloquent tongue and become vocal in teaching the Cause of God.

They must be eloquent speakers and heralds, and in the utmost joy and gladness, recite the verses of guidance and interpret the words sent down from the heaven of praise and glorification, sending their exaltation and sanctification to the Supreme Kingdom.

Therefore, you must manifest in gatherings of the loved ones and meetings of the chosen ones an eloquent tongue, a brilliant proof, evident attraction, fluent speech and elevated utterance.

I beseech God that He make each of you a luminous candle in the human assembly, so that each may, with eloquent speech and fluent tongue, establish in the gatherings of the world conclusive proofs and evidences of the Most Great Name.

In the assemblage of the friends thou didst shine forth as a bright candle with the light of Godis love, and thou wert aided by the breaths of the Holy Spirit. With the utmost courage, thou didst unloose thine eloquent tongue and deliver a persuasive speech.

I hope that you will acquire a tongue of utmost eloquence and fluency and in gatherings and meetings speak in such a way as to bring the attendees to a state of joy and delight.

Whosoever opens an eloquent tongue and makes an expressive utterance will receive the decree of favors from the Abha Kingdom and seek the charter of gifts from the Supreme Concourse.

They adorn assemblies with eloquent speech and embellish pages with fluent expression. They have kindled the ignited fire of the love of God and become moths consumed by the candle of the Covenant.

With reinforced hearts, strong resolution and heavenly assistance may you loose your tongues, deliver eloquent speeches and promote the Word of God.

My hope is that the breathings of the Holy Spirit will be wafted over them, and that each one present shall, in great assemblies, with an eloquent tongue and a heart flooded with the love of God, set himself to acclaiming the rise of the Sun of Truth, the dawn of the Day-Star that lighteth all the World....

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O Lord! Assist them with the army of proofs and evidences, confirm them with wisdom and understanding and inspire their tongues with such eloquence and elucidation as to humble the intelligences and conquer the voices!

Grant me a serene heart, an expanded breast, a joyful spirit, an enlivened mind, a watchful eye, a radiant countenance, an awakened vision, an eloquent tongue, penetrating thought, powerful speech and clear expression.

O Lord! Cause his tongue to speak with utterance, adorn his heart with the verses of exposition, and make his breaths to be confirmed by the breath of the All-Merciful, that he may loose his tongue in the field of divine knowledge, and scatter arranged pearls and string scattered pearls in odes, praises and attributes in praise of Thee every evening and morn.

I swear by the Most Great Name that if a deaf and mute person rises to praise the Truth, he will speak with an eloquent and articulate tongue and, like the nightingale of the garden of divine knowledge, will warble melodies in diverse modes upon the branches and twigs of the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing.

Therefore, take up the eloquent pen and inscribe upon the simple tablet the essence of expression and rhetoric, so that you may fulfill the right of fluency, eloquence and sweetness of expression, and demonstrate the miracle of divine rhetoric and expression.

Wherefore, O ye beloved of God, offer up thanks that ye have, in the day of the dawning, turned your faces unto the Light of the World and beheld its splendours. Ye have received a share of the light of truth, ye have enjoyed a portion of those blessings that endure forever; and therefore, as a returning of thanks for this bounty, rest ye not for a moment, sit ye not silent, carry to men's ears the glad tidings of the Kingdom, spread far and wide the Word of God.

Therefore, at all times strive with the utmost effort to exalt the Word and illumine hearts and eyes, and dispel the thick darkness arising from error through the light of divine guidance.

But when a man ariseth to expound the arguments of God and invite people to enter in the religion of God, and when he uttereth those arguments and advanceth consummate proofs concerning the appearance of the great Kingdom, then intense love shall become manifest in his heart.

Of course, a person sings a joyous song only when he himself is delighted and rapturous. Thus when one begins to guide others and adduces proofs, then his taste becomes sweeter and his heart more joyful.

When one opens the tongue of teaching, one becomes enkindled and moves by the breeze of grace. This is the manifest triumph, this is the great bounty.

Every power and capacity that is expended in the Cause of God - its effects remain and it yields lasting results. Otherwise it becomes as if it had never existed and was not worth mentioning.

Those souls who possess the power of utterance, if this power is combined in them with sanctification and attraction, mighty effects will appear from them and they will succeed in rendering outstanding services at the Divine Threshold.

It is very good that thy breath is very effective. No matter with whomsoever thou speakest about the cause he will be impressed and accept the revelation. This is because thou art seeking the good-pleasure of the Lord. Thou art not serving the Cause for fame but to be drawn near unto God.

It is the season of seed-sowing and of propagating the Word of God.

In speaking of the spreading the Fragrances of the Kingdom, Abdul-Baha said "In movements there is life, in immobility there is death. The traveling of the teachers from place to place, from Orient to Occident, and from country to country, is one of the greatest means for spreading the Fragrances, and for sowing spiritual seeds in the souls of the people."

Thy mission now is this: Travel as much as possible to different parts of America, pass through cities and villages (or towns), guide all to the Beauty of ABHA and raise the call of the Kingdom and say: "O greatest of glad-tidings, for the Sun of Truth of the Beauty of ABHA hath dawned from the horizon of the contingent world and illumined the regions of with the lights of the mightiest guidance!

My purpose was that after your return to Washington you would raise high the banner of the Most Great Guidance and, like the morning star, shine with the light of the most great bounty, and raise such a cry that would awaken the sleeping ones and cause those who are extinguished to become enkindled with the fire of the love of God.

Until now such a thing has never occurred, and in no age has it been seen that someone from the East would travel to the furthermost regions of the West in such a way that, in proclaiming the Cause of God and explaining the new teachings and divine matters in temples and assemblies of different peoples, they would stand and speak in such a way that no one would have any opportunity for denial or objection. Rather, all became enthralled and attracted, and showed the utmost honor and respect.

In the course of My journey to America one could witness how, in great assemblages and imposing churches, the spirit of divine assistance would begin to surge upon the utterance of a single word.

Most would say this kind of speech and utterance and the influence and penetration of His blessed word was extraordinary - that in one gathering the manner of speech and impact of His blessed utterance could satisfy opposing souls and fulfill the ultimate desires of people of different dispositions and aims while also explaining and expressing truth.

The mode of His discourse and the style of His utterances were a cause of wonder and were without peer or likeness.

The man answered: 'The proof of Muhammad was His eloquent Arabic book. I have heard that this young man has brought through revelation several eloquent Arabic and Persian epistles which have the spirit of the word of Muhammad.'

We thank Him for having caused you to speak His praise and enabled you to set forth His proof and establish His arguments and evidences and manifest His Cause throughout His creation. Were people to possess attentive ears, pure minds, assured souls and clear hearts, this treatise would suffice them.

Therefore, O thou who art intoxicated with the wine of the eternal covenant, be assisted to speak and utter in such wise that, like penetrating rays dispersing the clouds of doubt of every wavering soul, thou mayest be as a flash of lightning, becoming a manifestation of divine confirmations, a dawning-place of heavenly assistance, and a rising-point of the lights of unity.

Thou shouldst not be saddened by what hath befallen thee, but shouldst occupy thyself with utmost determination in serving the Cause. Thou must speak such words as will kindle the souls, through divine assistance.

So in thankfulness for this boundless grace in this mighty Dispensation, open your tongue in such wise that like a flame of fire it will burn and melt the hearts of both friend and stranger, consume all veils, and set the affairs of a world aright.

O two luminous candles in the gathering for teaching the Cause of God! Today is the day of utterance and the time for melody and song. Adorn the gathering of exposition and loose the tongue of divine knowledge and show forth the white hand.

Open ye the eloquent tongues and utter ye fluent speeches. Sing ye such a melody that while I am in the East I may hear its clear echo and all the Baha'is may become rejoiced and happy.

In remembrance and utterance may they become an endless ocean, and in the essence of expression may they open an eloquent and fluent tongue.

Turn thy face to the Kingdom of holiness, ascend to the summit of divine address, and open thy tongue. Scatter pearls and gems, bestow musk and ambergris, unlock the fragrant casket of mysteries and expand the breasts of those endowed with understanding.

Perfume the horizons, illumine all regions.

Convey to his honor Shah Khalilu'llah on my behalf the Most Wondrous and Most Glorious greetings, and likewise express utmost longing to his honor Aqa Mirza Jalalu'llah and say that thy melody must rise high and thy song and voice bring the Concourse on High to ecstasy and joy.

The rest is up to you, for the breath of the spirit was blown into thee and a ray from the Abha Kingdom fell upon thy heart. Given this, silence and quietude are not permitted.

Raise thy voice about this glorious station and noble rank, and open thy tongue of praise in this prayer. Strike up the melody of servitude and awaken the world with the tune and song of servitude.

Be thou vocal with that which will cause the spirit of the world to soar and the hearts of them who are nigh to be attracted. Warble upon the branches of the Divine Lote-Tree with diverse melodies that the followers of all religions may be set ablaze thereby.

The service of this servant is known, but thy service is that thou shouldst migrate for the sake of God and speak for the sake of God and remind His creation of Him for His sake, that perchance some ready souls may be delivered from the abyss of passion and desire and may turn towards the blessed City which is the source of the Most Beautiful Names and the Dawning-Place of the Most Exalted Attributes.

O servant! Do thou aid thy Lord through utterance in such wise that the fragrance of the Garment may be wafted among all contingent beings.

Be thou occupied with the mention of the Truth through wisdom and utterance, that perchance the dead may attain unto life through the sweet-scented breezes of the garment of the All-Merciful, and the withered may be made fresh.

If in certain instances heedlessness hath occurred, verily He hath forgiven what is past. God willing, arise henceforth to make good what hath escaped you.

The world is not worthy of mention, and its evanescence is witnessed at every moment. Arise to serve the Cause of God with wisdom and utterance.

Come forth from behind the veil of silence, then loose thy tongue in praise of thy Lord, that thou mayest be among those who are guided, and remind people through thy remembrance, that perchance through thee may be brought about in them what God hath chosen for them.

Whoso opens his lips today in remembrance of his Lord will be reinforced by the hosts of God's revelation through wondrous inspiration, and God will cause the Kawthar of divine knowledge to flow from his mouth and will make him speak with wisdom and utterance in such wise that none among all created things shall be able to speak in his presence.

The tongue was created for these days. Beware lest thou restrain it through vain imaginings. Speak forth in praise of thy Lord in such wise as to attract the spirits.

Today is the day of the tongue, for it was created for praise.

O thou who art engaged in uttering the remembrances of God! It is said that man is a rational being endowed with the faculty of speech and utterance, that he is aware of universal truths and can perceive mystical and secret meanings. But within the precincts of the Unconstrained, the real purpose of speech among the truly wise is to give praise to the Ancient Beauty and the essence of meaningful utterance is to describe the attributes of the Most Great Name.

Otherwise a dumb animal is better than a human being endowed with speech.

I swear by the Most Great Name that the tongue was created for the remembrance of God - if it attaineth not thereunto it is assuredly severed - and the ears were created to hearken unto His words, and likewise all the limbs and members.

O Sattar, Concealer of mysteries manifest, through Whose revelation the hidden secret and treasured mystery hath been made resplendent! This is the Day of vision, that one may behold, and the Day of hearing, that one may hearken, and the Day of utterance, that one may voice the praise of the Beloved of all creation.

Make mention of Him in such wise that through thee His mention and praise may be spread abroad.

Aid thy Lord through utterance and associate with those who make mention of God in private and in public, whose hearts are set ablaze by this Fire from whose sighing is heard: "He is God; there is none other God but Him, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting."

Be thou so enkindled with the love of God that should one of the idolaters confront thee, he would be unable to speak in thy presence.

How resonant is this soundless pen! It is the source of all the world's sounds. Its shrill voice gives life to souls. The world of command and creation appears through it and returns to it, for in one station it is the first interpreter and in another the second. How many treasuries of arts and knowledge has this hollow shaft gathered within itself!

Speech is from His special grace and the pen from His infinite bounty. The connection of the world, the fellowship and gathering of nations, and all stations and ranks are made manifest through these two. They are two mighty interpreters that He has bestowed upon His servants.

In truth, the pen is a great sign from the Ancient Lord, and ink is the supreme gate of love and unity. These two have ever been and shall continue to be the movers of the cord of love. Were the favors of God, exalted be His glory, and likewise the effects and fruits ordained for these two to become manifest, the world would be struck with wonderment.

What a bounty has been bestowed upon the human world that a mere trace has the effect of the morning breeze and news becomes the illumination of heart and sight. Ink becomes an eloquent tongue of justice and paper becomes a mirror reflecting the mysteries of the world.

Therefore, a letter in fine handwriting by a skilled calligrapher bears no fruit unless it contains pleasing meanings and sweet contents. The sweetness of expression lies in the delicacy of meanings and indication of spiritual love, conscientious attractions, and merciful sentiments - especially if written upon the surface of the vast ocean and evidence of this ailing one's intense attachment to the glorious friends.

O you who are firm in the Covenant! The letter you wrote to the traveling friends was noted. It was an eloquent interpreter of spirit and conscience, and a fluent and articulate expositor of heart and soul.

I cannot describe the eloquent contents and fluent expressions of your noble letter, and I cannot express the sweetness, fluidity, excellence and delicacy of the mysteries and meanings of your poetry. How excellent is the one who said "And when you speak, you are indeed the Gemini."

O handmaid of God! Your brief letter was detailed, for it was a clear proof of your love. One word that demonstrates the love of God is a detailed book, and one melody raised in praise and glorification of the Loving Lord is a matchless and peerless song.

Now from your brief letter, indeed from the first letter of the name alone, countless books of love, fellowship, affection, and unity can be derived.

In truth, each of its words was a messenger from the right hand of love and affection, and a fragrance from the rose-garden of longing and desire. It gave the power of smell to the nostrils and taste to the palate. Allah-u-Akbar! Such is the influence of the messengers and the penetrating power of the words of the sincere ones that a single word can transform hell into paradise and retribution into blessing.

Call it not a letter but rather a rose garden, for the sweet-scented breezes of love for the loved ones of God waft from it, and every confidant bears witness to this helplessness and supplication.

What a bounty this is, that the effect of ink seeks the rose of the garden of the heart and perfumes minds - and this is nothing but the bounty of the Ancient Beauty and the Greatest Name, Who has bestowed such grace and granted such power to the musk-scented pen that it gives souls the intoxication of spiritual wine and freely grants eternal joy and expansion to hearts.

I have taken up the pen and engaged in mentioning that yearner for the Beauty of the All-Merciful, that perhaps from the effect of this pen and ink a sweet fragrance may reach the nostrils of the hearts of the people of love, and hearts and breasts may become expanded and gladdened through divine remembrance.

The letters which I sent to you are as the fragrant breezes of the garden of the knowledge of God, which can be smelled by every one whose sense of smelling is clean and purified from any rheum, because they are glad-tidings proceeding from pure lips which are fluent in explaining the mysteries of God.

The letter from that handmaiden of God arrived at a time when, due to the sorrows that have befallen [Us], the divine fragrances were cut off and the pen was prevented from movement. Nevertheless, out of love for God, a reply is being written to that handmaiden of God according to what my Lord desires.

I swear by the Ancient Beauty and the Most Great Manifestation [may my spirit and being be sacrificed for His attracted loved ones] that when mention of the divine friends flows from the tongue or the pen inscribes their names, such a state occurs that pen and paper are moved to ecstasy and delight, and the ink cries out "May my soul be sacrificed for them!"

That very mention which flowed from the tongue of that Beloved concerning its dispatch cannot be equaled by anything hidden and treasured in the earth in the estimation of the friends and chosen ones. In truth, love is a sovereign that is mighty and a ruler that prevails. The world of motion and stillness is within the grasp of its power.

Well is it with thy mouth for having drunk the choice wine of utterance, and with thy pen for having moved in remembrance of this Remembered One through Whom the horizons have been illumined.

Thy letter hath come before the Wronged One and the servant in attendance before His face hath read it, and We have answered thee with this Tablet whereby the fragrance of utterance hath been wafted throughout all possibility.

My God, my God! Assist him in this endeavor and make his pen flow across the pages with a flow that demonstrates the shining of light through the outpouring of abundant knowledge and proves this Manifestation in this renowned age.

O Pen! Gallop and sacrifice your life! Make a heavenly charge and show forth the power of the favors of the Most Glorious Beauty!

Therefore, open your tongue to these mysteries and proclaim the outpourings of this luminous century. Sometimes string together pearls of poetry, and sometimes make manifest through prose the meanings of this Day of Manifestation.

O thou who art attracted with the Fragrances of God!

The poems were in the utmost of sweetness, flowing from a nature imbued with the love of God. Let them be read and sung in the assemblies.

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This is the greatest gift, for whenever the name of that Peerless Beloved passes over any tongue, it bestows spiritual wine and divine exhilaration - how much more so with divine odes and praises!

O thou who are spreading the Fragrances of GOD!

Verily thy letter was received and I was informed of thy chanting the verses of GOD in the Spiritual Assemblies, of thy excellent speech and eloquent address in the illumined gatherings.

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O thou spiritual clarion!

The voice of the physical clarion may travel the distance of three miles, but the harmony of the spiritual Clarion reacheth to the East and the West. The effect of that is only in the bodies; but the effect of this is in the spirits.

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Due to the intensity of the connection between hearts, forms have taken on the properties of essences, metaphor has found the effect of reality, words have acquired the power of meanings, and expressions have become the truth of allusions and glad tidings of abstract meanings. A word has taken on the quality of a book, and a letter has found the station of a decisive utterance.

Today one word from this pen suffices, for there is no time, and one word has the effect of an entire book.

He smiled again and said, "You are shouting although you are silent, but your words will be heard in the future. The words of Christ were not heard until three hundred years after His death.

If a lover holds the hand of a beloved, it is obvious what feelings ensue. They communicate face to face and speak heart to heart, as this light is communicating now with human eyes, the sun with the earth, the cloud with the land and the breeze with the tree. This process is found in all things.

In this material world there is also a material language of the heart. In this material world there is also a material language of the heart and by which the hearts speak.

The eloquent tongue is the tongue of consciousness. Praise be to God that that tongue is explaining the real feelings of the hearts and expresses our spiritual susceptibilities.

The spiritual susceptibilities in the hearts are understood by them as 'communication', because between the souls of disincarnated spirits and the embodied, incarnated spirits there exists strong connection and definite and well-established relationship. Those ideal connections are, therefore, the means of receiving and bestowing Divine Favours.

Those which strive to speak only that which is truth, which hold the mirror up to truth, are like the sun: they light the world everywhere with truth and their work is imperishable.

O well-wisher of the human world! The article that was published in the St. Petersburg newspaper was in the utmost eloquence and excellence, and it was evidence of your outstanding services. Such beneficial articles are the cause of the spread of the divine call.

A thousand times it was written that the interference of the clergy in political matters would result in calamities.

… In any case, obtain and read that treatise - with such clear language were warning and counsel given, but ears were deaf and eyes were blind, therefore it ended in this state.

A myriad names and attributes have been ascribed to these degrees and stations, which I am disinclined to mention here. It is, indeed, solely because of thy longing and devotion that I have engaged in such ephemeral and limited topics. And this, notwithstanding that speech is the greatest evidence of the worth of the speaker and guideth unto the recognition of the source of guidance, for no more complete and enduring proof hath been or will be vouchsafed unto man from the empyrean of everlasting glory than words and utterance.

We ask for neither meed nor reward. "We nourish your souls for the sake of God; we seek from you neither recompense nor thanks." This is the food that conferreth everlasting life upon the pure in heart and the illumined in spirit.

We have sent down the blessing of proof and the table of utterance from the heaven of grace and bounty. Blessed is he who hath attained unto them, and woe unto every ungrateful denier.

The water of utterance hath a penetrating power and influence which most of the people of the world are powerless to comprehend. This is that water concerning which He saith: "And from water We made every living thing."

In truth, the living waters of human utterance have ever been and shall remain the fountain of life, for they revive withered forms and quicken those who lie dead in the wilderness of heedlessness and forgetfulness.

I swear by the Sun of the horizon of grace that the drops of the ocean of utterance are more beneficial to the people of the earth than the effulgences of the sun and the spring rains.

God willing, may all be purified and sanctified through the water of the All-Merciful's utterance and become occupied with teaching the Cause. This is a station which the pen is powerless to describe and understanding faileth to comprehend. The words of holy souls are so effective and penetrating that they can make a withered tree fresh and adorned with delicate, precious fruits.

The saplings of existence seek sustenance - they must be nourished at all times from the Kawthar of utterance, that all may appear and become manifest with delicate, radiant leaves and pure, sweet fruits.

Speak for the sake of God, for a word spoken for His sake is like unto a tree whose fruit will surely appear in the world.

Whosoever in this Day utters a single word of truth, that word will forever surge and move and will never perish.

A word spoken by the tongue for the Cause of God is like the Most Great Luminary - though clouds and mists may temporarily veil it, ere long it will emerge from behind the clouds and illumine the world with its effulgence.

O friends! Strive that ye may attain and possess that which is befitting - a word that is sanctified above change and extinction.

God willing, mayest thou be ever gladdened by the sweet-scented breezes of God's love and remain turned toward His horizon. I swear by the Sovereign of all creation that this is a Day wherein not a single letter appeareth except that it is recorded by the Pen of Destiny in the Manifest Book and, through the permanence of God's names and attributes, is mentioned in the presence of them that are nigh and sincere.

God hath made thy heart a repository of His remembrance, that there might appear from it the pearls of remembrance and praise in this Cause which, when it dawned from the horizon of Will, caused all existence to swoon away save those rescued by the hand of Will.

Verily, if thou hearest what the Beauty of Knowledge hath taught thee, by God thy word would influence all things, nay every firm and lofty mountain.

Then will thy words influence the hearts of the servants and from them will spread the fragrances of the Cause throughout all lands.

Say: O friends! Know ye your worth and withhold not yourselves from that which is with God. Each one of you must be even as the morning star, radiant, that souls who have strayed in the darkness of idle fancies and selfish desires may thereby be guided and find the path of deliverance.

Say: O people! All meanings have appeared in a concise word - this is what is intended, were ye of those who know.

O people of Baha! We have adorned the heaven of utterance with the ornament of meaning and exposition, that ye may give thanks unto your Lord, the All-Merciful.

Open your tongue in praise of that Kind Friend Who has made such an overflowing chalice of utterance and brimming goblet of exposition to overflow.

When thou dost win to My Tablet and find the fragrance of revelation in My utterance, say: My God, my God! Praise be to Thee for showing me Thy signs, causing me to hear the shrill voice of Thy Pen, and illumining my heart with the light of Thy knowledge.

Take hold of God's verses with the power granted by Us and say: Praise be to Thee, O Manifestation of clear evidences!

Beyond these, We have manifested this Name unto all who are in the heavens and on earth, and We have made this Name a sun that all existence, both seen and unseen, might be illumined by its rays. None knoweth this save those who have been given spiritual vision by One All-Knowing, All-Wise. None shall be barred from the radiance of this Sun save those who place a veil between themselves and its light.

The one God adorned man with the ornament of utterance, and this utterance is special to him and through it man is distinguished from animal. In the Furqan, which distinguishes between truth and falsehood, He says: "He created man, taught him utterance."

In the Tablet of the World this most exalted Word hath been revealed from the Most Exalted Pen: "Through the movement of the Most Exalted Pen a new spirit of inner meanings was breathed by the command of the True Commander into the bodies of words, and its effects are visible and manifest in all things of the world.

This is a Day wherein the Gate of Utterance hath been unlocked by the Key of My Name, the All-Merciful, and the Ocean of Knowledge hath surged before the faces of all who are in the heavens and on earth.

The time of silence hath passed. The day when the Sovereign of Eternity emerged from behind the veils of names and attributes, rent asunder the clouds of knowledge and tore apart the mists of wisdom, and without concealment or veil the Tongue of the Lord of Lords began to speak - in such wise that the oceans of meanings flowed from His blessed lips and the surging waves of utterance streamed forth from His life-giving words.

O servants! Turn your eyes from these matters and purify your hearts, for today such bounty has appeared that in a single day and night, if a scribe were capable, the equivalent of the Persian Bayan could be revealed from the holy divine heaven.

Say: He verily speaketh at all times verses that bewilder the minds of the wise, the knowledge of the mystics, and the hearts of the accomplished ones.

By the Most Great Luminary! His utterance transcendeth the utterance of the peoples of the world, His mention surpasseth the mention of all nations, and His movement and stillness are distinct from all else.

O Zayn! The ocean of divine knowledge hath surged through My utterance and the fragrances of the All-Merciful have been stirred by My call, yet most of the people remain heedless.

He was established upon the throne of utterance and with the most exalted call summoned the peoples of earth and heaven to the supreme horizon. By the sword of wisdom and utterance, the hearts and minds of the peoples of the world have been and shall continue to be opened.

He is God, exalted be His glory, the Most Great!

Praise be to God Who hath spoken that whereby all things were attracted, and through Whom His path and His balance were made manifest, and whatsoever was recorded in the Books, the Scriptures, the Psalms and the Tablets.

Praise be befitting and worthy of the intended Lord Who, through His Most Exalted Word, illumined the world of kingdom and dominion with the lights of the manifestation of Him Who conversed upon Sinai, and raised up the banner "The Kingdom is God's" upon the hearts and minds of His servants.

Today the Speaker of the Mount is speaking that which was foretold: "Await ye the appearance of Him Who conversed with Moses from the Tree upon the Mount."

O Ali! Hearken unto the Voice of the Wronged One and know thou of a certainty that this is that Voice which Moses heard from the Sinai of divine knowledge.

By God! There hath appeared what hath never appeared in the world, and the Speaker of Sinai hath spoken that which, were it to be cast upon the mountains, they would take flight, and were it cast upon the earth, its treasures would be revealed, and were it cast upon the heaven, it would be cleft asunder instantly.

The Word of God is the quickener of bodies and the resurrector of souls.

The water of life is the divine utterance, and likewise His clear evidences. Strive that perchance the people of the world may attain eternal life through this everlasting stream and may illumine creation with the light of wisdom and utterance....

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When thou hast comprehended what We have mentioned and understood what We have explained, thou wilt recognize the dawning of the Divine Word upon the receptive vessels of creation in the world of the atoms, and thou wilt realize the first blast in the forms of power and the second blast in the realm of simplicity and mercy.

Through His appearance the ocean of utterance surged in the contingent world, and by His uprising the people arose for the Lord of the worlds.

Through Him the Kingdom of Utterance moved and the Sun of Knowledge shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of the Tablet, by the command of the Mighty, the Wise.

O 'Ali! The shrill voice of the Most Exalted Pen is raised to such a degree that the tongues of the world and the pens of nations are powerless to make mention of it.

From His horizon He speaks the truth and summons the people to the Mighty, the Bestower.

Reflect upon the penetrating influence of the Supreme Pen and the power of the Most Exalted Word. Its traces are manifest from every direction and its fruits evident from every quarter.

O Supreme Pen! I bear witness that Thou hast, at all times, called out to all who are in the realm of creation, summoned them unto God, and guided them to His straight Path. Not for less than a moment did I pause, but rather did I speak forth in the Kingdom of utterance that which drew the hearts of them that know. Through thy shrill voice every soul that turned to God, the Lord of all worlds, was drawn nigh, and through thy movement were all created things stirred to motion in the days of thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Praised. Through thee were made manifest the hidden mysteries in the Books of God, and that which was treasured in His all-encompassing knowledge was unveiled.

It is the cup-bearer of the wine of love and the manifestation of affection and fellowship. The divine Books have appeared through it and their mysteries are inscribed by it. Exalted is He Who hath favored it with that which the writer and His creation are powerless to describe, and taught it and made known to it what He desired.

The power of speech and utterance was created for the mention of this station. Hold fast unto it and be of the thankful ones.

Through him the lips of utterance smiled throughout all possibility and the Nightingale sang upon the branches.

The heavens have been adorned with the ornament of verses and the earth hath been illumined by the lights of His Face that was and that shall be.

Yet the pen of contingent being lacks the power to express, and the tablets of existence cannot contain this manifest bounty.

Say: Today the Sun of Certitude hath risen, the Straight Path is manifest, the banners of verses are unfurled, and the standards of guidance are visible.

Say: O concourse of the world! By God, the Most Great Name hath come, which was inscribed by the Most Exalted Pen in every unfurled scroll, every sealed book, and every recorded tablet.

Consider what the All-Merciful has revealed in the Qur'an that you may be assured I speak only what God, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, has spoken.

This is what the Remembrance has informed you in a clear Book. He has said: "He speaks in all things: 'There is none other God but Me, the Mighty, the All-Wise.'"

There is nothing that doth not speak forth in this Most Great Revelation and give glad tidings unto the peoples.

O Exalted Pen! Make mention of those whom We have related to thy exalted Self, and mention them with such remembrances as will cause the fish in the seas to be attracted, the fruits upon the trees and the birds in their nests to speak.

Say: O people of the graves! By God! The trumpet hath been sounded and the mountains have passed away and the heaven hath come with a manifest command. Arise and turn with shining faces toward the Supreme Horizon.

Through Him hath every seeker attained his goal and every aspirant his desire, and through Him were loosened the tongues of all created things proclaiming: "The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the Revealer of verses."

The Sun of Utterance hath testified, and the Moon hath declared "Well done! Well done!"

Today all atoms are observed to be in a state of utmost attraction and excitement, for they have perceived the fragrance of the garment of Joseph of inner meanings.

Thus have We kindled the fire of utterance that through it all creation might be set ablaze, yet the people remain in manifest obscuration.

Say: O people! By God, the Hand of God hath appeared, and it is sovereign over all who are in earth and heaven. Were anyone to find the sweetness of that which We have sent down unto thee, the attraction of the verses would so seize him that he would cry out with a cry surpassing the crashing of thunderbolts in the mountains, and would be set ablaze with the fire of the Word in such wise as to set the horizons aflame.

Without helper or assistant He summoned the peoples of the world to the horizon of the Most Great Name. That call became a fire of hatred in the hearts of the idolaters, and the choice sealed wine in the hearts of those who are near and sincere.

By God's life! They know not what issueth from their mouths. These are but worthless followers who pursue their desires on a Day whereon the Herald hath called out from the Most Exalted Horizon: "O people of creation! The Throne hath been established in Akka.

One who never attended schools nor witnessed debates, yet with the most exalted call proclaimed and continues to proclaim before the faces of the divines and princes: "The Promised One has come and the Intended Lord has appeared!

Likewise convey greetings from this Wronged One to the people of that village, both men and women, and say: "This is the Day of remembrance and utterance, the Day of assistance and service. All must remain firm and steadfast in the Cause of the Lord of creation in complete unity. The triumph of God's Cause hath been and shall be through goodly deeds and firm, decisive utterances.

Blessed art thou for having arisen to promote the Cause in such wise that the tyranny of the oppressors hath failed to deter thee. We behold thee speaking at all times in praise of thy Lord, even after thou wert imprisoned among the silent ones. And We see thee possessed of sight amidst the blind, and standing firm among those who sit. Through thee was raised the shrill voice of every pen and every wise decree was expounded. Through thee were hearts drawn to the Beloved, and the hearts of lovers were set ablaze with the fire of separation, and the Face illumined the horizons.

Be thou of such constancy that shouldst all the hosts of the earth surround thee with swords of hatred, thou wouldst still speak forth My Most Great Name, the All-Glorious, saying: "O people! The breathings of the words of the Lord of Names and Attributes have so seized me that the veils have been rent asunder by the fingers of the power of Him Who is the Fashioner of the heavens and earth, and I have turned toward the countenance whereby the worlds have been illumined."

We beseech God, glorified and exalted be He, to aid them to hearken unto the divine words, for whosoever attaineth unto hearing them will behold the world as a handful of dust and the diverse colors of the world will not make him heedless of the Lord of Names.

O hearing of the worlds! Hearken to the call of the Lord, the All-Merciful, which is raised from the direction of sorrows, that perchance through thy hearing the ears of the people of the earth may be turned and they may attain to the hearing of the Word of God.

By God! The hearing ear perceiveth from all things their lamentation and their cry by reason of what hath befallen the Manifestation of the Self of the All-Merciful through sorrows, yet most of the people are heedless.

Surely ears will be found that were created from the element of spirit and brought into being from the wondrous natures of the abundant realms.

You heard with your own ears His life-giving divine call from His purified mouth, and in the Most Holy Court were favored to hear the all-embracing Word.

O Sulayman! We speak in the Persian tongue so that every soul may find the purpose and perchance partake of a drop from the Kawthar of the All-Merciful's utterance.

Ponder thou on what hath been revealed in truth, then read it with the melody of the heart - verily it attracts the servants to the straight path.

Were anyone to ponder what hath flowed from the Pen of the All-Merciful in this wise Remembrance, he would know what none hath known save whom thy Lord willeth, and would turn with his most luminous countenance toward the Most Sublime Vision and say: "I have turned my face unto Thee, O Lord of the worlds!"

Blessed is the strong one who hath purified his heart with the Kawthar flowing from the spring of My Pen and hath taken the chalice of immortality from the hand of the bounty of his Lord, the Most High, the Most Exalted, and hath drunk before all faces in spite of those who have denied God's proof and His evidence, who have disputed His signs and disbelieved in the blessing of His knowledge which was sent down from the heaven of His mercy that hath encompassed all who are in the heavens and on earth.

Say: O ye who drink the choice wine of utterance, know ye your worth and preserve your stations, and guard the unique pearl, which is the knowledge of God, exalted be His glory, as a treasure within the repository of the heart from thieves and traitors.

Today is a different day and a different heaven is upraised and a different sea is surging. It cannot and will not be compared with before and after. Say: Today the sun of bounty is manifest and the ocean of grace is before all faces. Move in this spiritual atmosphere with the wings of spirit, and keep yourselves detached, free and sanctified from the impurities, allusions and dust of the vicissitudes of time. Wings soiled with mud are not worthy of flight nor capable of ascension.

This Day is the Day whose mention hath flowed from the Pen and been recorded in the Books of the past and of the future. Blessed is he who hath turned unto it, and drunk, and attained, and woe to the heedless, and woe to the deniers.

Fear ye God and oppose not Him Whom all on earth have opposed. Sufficient unto Him is what hath befallen Him and what continueth to befall Him from those who have denied God, the Mighty, the Beloved. And thou, O thou who gazest upon thy Lord's Most Glorious Horizon, hearken unto the melodies of the Dove, then detach thyself from all that hath been created between earth and heaven. Then remind the people of this hidden News, and drink at every moment from the cup of life, though thou didst drink therefrom in the days of thy Lord, to which all things bear witness, yet people hear not.

And this despite all created things, through their own deeds and transformations, giving counsel in most eloquent utterance and reminding mankind.

O Rahim! Know that My Pen hath found no rest or repose at any time. Its shrill voice hath been raised and hath summoned all unto God, the Lord of the worlds. The tongue speaketh and the heart calleth out and the fingers point, but most of the people are heedless.

Nevertheless, the Most Exalted Pen hath not been prevented from mention and praise, and night and day summoneth the peoples of the earth to the Most Exalted Horizon. No authority hath restrained Him and no fear hath seized Him. He hath spoken and continueth to speak before all faces: "Verily there is none other God but Me, the Counselor, the All-Knowing."

Nevertheless, at all times the tongue remained eloquent and the Pen in motion to such a degree that all pens are powerless to reckon it.

Time hath brought Me low, to such extent that the dumb now speaketh, since the gates of utterance have been opened through this human being who proclaimeth at the midmost heart of creation: "Verily, there is none other God but Me, the Speaking One, the True, the Articulate, the Trustworthy." Abasement hath reached such a pass that the mute claimeth to have heard the melodies that were raised between earth and heaven.

O Muhammad, upon thee be My glory! By My life, I remain silent at a time when from My utterance hath flowed the ocean of wisdom and knowledge, and from My tongue the river of mercy and proof.

By silence is meant spiritual silence, otherwise the Pen moveth with such swiftness that its reckoning is beyond comprehension.

This is the day of mention and praise, the day of enthusiasm and fervor, but this evanescent one's tongue is tired and body weak, and moreover commanded to wisdom. He beseecheth God, exalted be His might and glory, to raise up servants who may guide the people to the ocean of knowledge through wisdom and utterance, and speak that which is meet to be spoken.

The reason for this servant's mention of the end is not clear, for the verses have not ended and the evidences have not accepted conclusion. In the nights and days verses are being revealed like the pouring rain - God forgive this meaningless simile of this evanescent servant.

Say: Cast aside what ye possess and take what ye are bidden by One Who is Mighty, All-Knowing. Thus have We adorned the horizon of utterance with the light of explanation that thou mayest thank thy Lord and be of them that arise in such wise that sitting shall not hold thee back from this Cause whereby the horizon of unity was illumined and the faces of the deniers were darkened.

Say: My Word is My armor and whoso attaineth unto it, the darts of the idolaters, all of them, shall not harm him.

In all conditions thou shouldst occupy thyself with the remembrance of the Best-Beloved of the worlds and speak forth the blessed and goodly Word that hath been sent down from the Pen of the Divine Command.

Say: This is the Day of remembrance and utterance, did ye but know it, and this is the Day of proof and evidence, could ye but understand it.

He spoke that which he was commanded before all faces. Glorified be He Who caused him to speak, made him to know, and drew him nigh unto Him.

The mind will become fragrant and speech will become elegant discourse.

You open your tongue in praise of God and plant the sapling of truth in the gardens of hearts.

Thou wilt open thy tongue with the bounty of the All-Merciful in such a way that with wondrous melodies thou wilt cause the people of the Supreme Concourse to cry out.

The Word of God is like the promise-laden winds of spring and when this word can pass through spiritual lips it grants the breath of life indeed and imparts spiritual salvation. It transforms the pure earth into a rose garden and fills the horizon of existence with the fragrance of musk.

If thou wouldst hear My call and find its sweetness, thou wouldst forsake all creation, turning thy face toward the Most Exalted Horizon, and remember thy Lord with a tongue whereby the hearts of the heedless would be attracted.

Speak forth the verses of thy Lord whereby hearts are melted and the breasts of them that have advanced towards God are set aflame.

Despite my inherent baseness, Thou hast made me to excel all standards, and notwithstanding my manifest weakness, Thou hast made me powerful through Thy Name, the Almighty, the Powerful. Through me is broken the back of every mighty one, and through me is exalted both the lowly and the high. Were Thou to loose my reins, I would brandish the spears of utterance, subdue the cities of the earth, and take possession of the hearts of those who wander in the wilderness of heedlessness, drawing them nigh unto the dawning-place of Thy Name, the All-Forgiving, the All-Generous.

O thou who art attracted to God! May God assist thee! I beseech the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting to confirm thee in diffusing the spirit of life throughout all things, to expand thy breast through the hidden mystery and concealed symbol in the Torah, Gospel and Psalms, that thou mayest arise to give the greatest glad tidings in those regions and parts, and appear with penetrating power in the realities of things, and that thy face may shine among the beloved, and thy tongue may flow like a torrent in the great gatherings, and the Holy Spirit may confirm thee in the great assemblies - when thou purifies thy face for God and cleansest thy heart for God and sacrificest for thy Lord thy spirit, thy being, thy soul and thy heart until there remaineth no thought, no remembrance, no sound, no whisper save "O Thou Glory of the Most Glorious!"

Leave the souls, abandon affairs, detach thyself for God and be filled with the spirit of life, guide to salvation, and perfume the nostrils with holy fragrances wafting from the Most Glorious Kingdom. By the life of Baha! Whosoever is filled with the love of Baha and forgets all things - the Holy Spirit breathes into his mouth and the spirit of life into his heart, the lights of verses shine from his face, words scatter like strings of pearls from his mouth, and he heals ills and sickness by the touch of his hand. And upon thee be glory!

Convey my greetings to thy beloved son Albert. I beseech God to make him a lamp diffusing brilliant lights in the gatherings of the loved ones of God. And convey greetings and affection to that daughter of the Kingdom, firm in the Covenant, speaking forth the effulgence of the lights of her Loving Lord - thy respected wife Greenleaf. I supplicate God to illumine her face with the lights of confirmation in those parts. Likewise convey my love to beloved Leslie Greenleaf, whom I love with all my heart, for I hope this tender, fresh, verdant and flourishing branch will grow through an outpouring flow from the Kingdom of God.

We detach ourselves from all else but Thee and distance ourselves from other than Thee, clinging to the hem of Thy mercy, holding fast to the fringes of the robe of Thy oneness, plunging into the seas of Thy mercy, immersed in the depths of Thy knowledge, until we sing like Thy holy birds in the gardens, swim like the fish of Thy sea in the pools, and roar like the lions of Thy thicket in the woods.

In the regions of Azarbaijan, especially Tabriz, they should take care to exert the utmost wisdom in order to ensure that commotion is not raised. "Knowest thou what manner of music is recited by the lute and harp? Conceal thy speech, lest they make accusations of heresy!" The wine of divine secrets must be quaffed in holy and intimate gatherings, and the candle of mysteries must be enkindled in the lamp of the pure heart.

At one time I hear thy melodies, and at another thy sighing and weeping. It is as though patience hath been severed from thee at dawn when I hear thy lamentations, at eventide thy crying, and at daybreak that which hath caused the hearts of the mystics to burn.

Today is the day of the divine call and the voice is the voice of God, so that the birds of the gardens of unity may, in the rose-garden of detachment, teach lessons of spiritual stations with meaningful melodies, and may become engaged in singing and chanting upon the branches of existence with the psalms of the House of David.

Raise thou a clarion call to high heaven and lift thy voice with a heartfelt cry. … Become the confidant of divine mysteries and melodies. Stir up an outcry and toss aside thy lendings.

O thou eloquent speaker!

Every bird which reaches the rose garden breaks forth into lay and begins singing various harmonies. It is inspired with wonderful melodies and heart-rejoicing songs. It stirs into cheerfulness the listeners.

Today whosoever takes the lessons of voice culture in the Celestial Conservatory of Baha'u'llah, he will be endowed with a soul-captivating voice which would move and thrill the hearts of numberless music lovers.

When thou hast been favored with this Tablet, recite it in the most melodious of tunes and say:

Praise be unto Thee, O my Lord, the All-Merciful, for having remembered me through this Tablet, through which the fragrance of the garment of Thy knowledge was diffused and the oceans of Thy grace were set in motion.

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These very conversations of ours today consisted of the spiritual food. God had so destined that you (Mrs Fraser) be here with us in this train so that undisturbed we may talk together on these ideal subjects.

And We beseech Him to cause to flow from thy pen and tongue that which will illumine breasts and open the cities of the hearts of those who have turned towards Him.

I beseech Thee, O Lord of existence, by Thy Command whereby the ocean of utterance surged in contingent being and the dove of understanding warbled upon the branches, to enable me to serve Thy Cause in such wise that my remembrance may influence hearts and minds.

Say: My God, my God! I beseech Thee by the fire of the Tree which shone forth in the Mount of Knowledge upon the Son of Imran, to strengthen me in such wise that through my speech Thou mayest open the doors of the ears of the world to hearken unto Thy call, O Lord of all nations.

I beseech Thee, O Thou at Whose Name the stones have cried out and the kernels have spoken, to assist them each day to serve Thee and to remember and praise Thee.

I beseech Thee by the Name through Whose manifestation both the kingdom of earth and heaven were attracted, livers and hearts were melted, the ocean of utterance surged in the realm of possibility, and the nightingale sang upon the branches, to assist Thy servants and loved ones to remember Thee and praise Thee and to teach Thy Cause.

When you find the fragrance of My utterance and behold the pearls of My remembrance which We have brought forth from the treasuries of My Pen, say:

My God, my God! You see Your lovers among the wolves of Your earth, and those who long for You among the enemies of Your Self.

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His grace encompasses all, and likewise His knowledge. No cry is raised but that an answer descends from the Kingdom of the utterance of the All-Merciful.

Verily, We arose this day and desired this station which We have mentioned time and again, and have revealed therein that whereby the fragrance of utterance hath been wafted throughout all creation.